Insurgents fired at a bus carrying Iraqi soldiers west of Baghdad, wounding five of them and a civilian bystander, officials said Saturday. Also, a U.N. team arrived in Baghdad to study whether elections can be held before the handover of power to Iraqis by June 30, the U.N. announced.

Tens of thousands of Shiite Muslims shouting "No to America!" marched Thursday through this southern city to back their spiritual leader's call for early elections, a stand that could stymie a U.S. blueprint for transferring power to a new Iraqi administration.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon faced stiff opposition as he promised to seek parliamentary approval and consult with the United States before imposing what he calls a temporary boundary on the Palestinians.